Pattern-setting mechanism for type-casting machines and the like



Sept. 16, 1930. v mcomc 1,77 2

PATTERN SETTING MECHANISM FOR TYPE CASTING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Filbd Nov. 1, 1928 v Patented Sept. 16,1930

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CHESTER A. MACOMIC, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO PATENT PRODUCTS COB- I PORATION OF CHICAGO, 0F WILMINGTON, DELAWARE, A CORPORATION OF DELA- wean I PATTERN-SETTING MECHANISM FOR TYPE-CASTING MACHINES AND THE LIKE Application filed November 1, 1928. Serial No. 316,601.

My invention relates to pattern setting mechanism for type casting machines and the like and has for one object to provide in combination with a pattern bed means adapted to be controlled by a typewriter keyboard without interfering with the typewriter operation for setting the pattern pins in the bed in predetermined relation. Another object is to provide in such means an arrangement whereby the setting of the pattern pins is indiagrammatically in the accompanying drawings, wherein- V Figure 1 is a vertical section through the typewriter keyboard and a part of the pattern bed and pattern pin setting mechanism; Figure 2 is a sectionthrough the plunger carriage along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 showin the pattern pin depressed;

%igure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the plunger carriage moved to the second position when the operator failed to release the key. V

\ Like parts are indicated by like characters throughout the specification and drawings. A is a type setting machineframe. It is provided with a cover or top. A On this cover or top A rests a typewriter A being held adjustably in positionthereon by means of the threaded pins A nuts'A. A" is the typewriter keyboard frame, A the spacer, A A the typewriter keys. These keys are carried by keyboards A and are of the usual typewriter construction, these keyboards being positioned by a combv plate A.

B is the pattern bed. It is suported in the frame A by meansof cross bars 13 and may be adjustably removably mounted in, the

frame by any suitable means which are not here illustrated since they form no part of the present invention. B B are a series of pattern pins slidable longitudinally in the pattern plate. These pins have lower extensions B adapted to serve as stops for matrix strips there being one pin for each character on the matrix strip, the matrix strip having as many characters as there are characters onthe typewriter and there being one matrix strip and therefore one series of pins for each space of typewriter travel. It will be understood that my invention involves the specific elements and means for forcing any one of the matrix pins, for instance, the left hand pin shown in Figure 1 down into a position where it can be engaged by a suitable projection, on one of the matrix strips not here shown to raise the matrix strip in such position that a character thereon selected by the typewriter key will be in line with the casting mechanism. It will be understood that as the typewriter carriage moves along the plunger carriage B moves in unison with it, being supported by the roller B traveling along the track bar B.

In order that the typewriter keyboard may maintain control over the plunger carriage as it travels along, nomatter what its position, there are provided a series of pivoted shutters 0. Each shutter extends transvensely of the plunger carriage throughout the entire distance of possible travel of the carriage and each shutter overlies a plun er C in the plunger carriage, the relation 0 shutter and carriage being such that no matter where the carriage is the shutter if rotated will depress its associated plunger just as shown in Figure 1, at the left hand lower corner. This effect always takes place with every stroke of a typewriter key to cause a shutter to rotate and depress a plunger and Incidentally it' to displace a pattern pin. will be noted that there are twice as many pattern pins as there are plungers, the idea 4 board by means ofconnecting rods D. These The shutters are operated from the keyand at its other end engages a connecting rod D extending to one of the shutters C, there being a series of such devices interposed between each separate key bar and each separate shutter.

The plunger carriage is built up of two opposed channel sections tied together by the bracing members E. Extending downwardly from the bottom of the plunger carriage are a series of lugs E A pivot pin E extends through all these lugs and carries associated wit-l1 each lug, a guide arm E which is integral with and supports the plunger C This guide arm is slotted'as at E andthe spring E tends to hold the forward end of y the slot against the pivot pin E. i The plunger has a pattern pin engaging finger E proj ecting downwardly beyond the guide arm E It will be noted that as the plunger carriage and the typewriter carriage travel along in coordination under the influence of the escapement mechanism of the typewriter, 1t

frequently will happen that the operator who is writing on the typewriter will fail to release the typewriter key. This' makes no difference so far as the typewriter is concerned because of the striking key bar mechanism but it does result in holding down a plunger during the time that the typewriter carriage and plunger carriage are traveling across the bed having a plurality of movablepins, of a key of the machine. It is important therefore to provide means to permit such movement of the carriage to take place while the plunger is down without interfering with-the proper operation of the machine. Referring now to Figure 2, it will be noted that the plunger is just about to come down and select a pattern pin. In Figure 3 this has taken place. In Figure 4, the operator has notreleased the typewriter key and therefore not the shutterbut the typewriter escapement is operated.

' The spring E has been stretched, the plunger stays in place engaging the selected pattern pin and the pivot pin E is moved to the right in the slot E", a distance equal .to the carriage. escapement-and no harm is done. As soon as the operator releases the key, the shutter will fiyup, the spring E will-raise the plunger and at the same time return the guide arm or lever back tothe position of'Figures 2 and 3 ready for the next operation. If this release arrangement were not providedhit will be obvious that thepattern pin selecting finger would either engage the next pattern pin and bend it or break it off or if the pin were strong enough, the typewriter escapement would not be able to operate, either of which contingencies would 'befatal to the successful operation of the machine.

Claims: 4

1. The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of movable pms, of a key board controlled mechanism for longitudinally displacing selected pins, including a movable carriage and a pin engaging member yieldingly supported thereon.

2, The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of movable ins, of a key board controlled mechanism orlongitudinally displacing selected pins, including a movable carriage and a pin engaging member yieldingly supported thereon and means for permitting limited movement of the carriage to take place while the pin selecting member remains in engagement with a pin.

3. The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of movable pins, of a key board controlled mechanism for longitudinally displacing selected pins, including a movable carriage, a pin engaging member loosely mounted thereon and a' spring adapted to yieldingly position such member in its loose support 1 4. The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of= movable pins, of a key board. controlled mechanism for longitudinally displacing selected pins, including a movable carriage, a pin' engaging member loosely mounted thereon and a spring'adapted to-yieldingl'y position such member in its ioose support, the direction in which said spring acts being inclined to thepin selecting movement of the member.

5. The combination with a pattern bed movable carriage, a pin engaging member loosely mounted thereon and a spring adapt ed to yieldingly position such member in Its loose support, the direction in which the spring acts being inclined to the direction of movement of the carriage and to the direction in which the selecting member acts.

7. The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of movable pins, of a car-.

riage 'movable thereacross, a pm engaging member loosely pivoted on the carriage, .means for movingthe member into engagement with selected pins and yielding means for withdrawing it therefrom.

. .8. The combination with apattern bed pattern ,bed v member loosely pivoted on the carnage,

- means for movlng the member into engagement with selected pins and yielding means for withdrawing it therefrom, the pin engaging member comprising a lever slotted at one end, and a pin engaging finger projecting downwardly from the lever at the other end, a pin on the carriage loosely'engaging the slot and a spring interposed between the carriage andthe lever and adapted to normally hold the lever in a rest position with the pin engaging one end of the slot.

9. The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of movable pins, of a carriage movable thereacross, a pin engaging member loosely pivoted on the carriage, means for moving the member into engagement with selected pins and yielding means for withdrawing it therefrom, the pin engaging member comprising a lever slotted at one end, and a pin engaging finger projecting downwardly from the lever at the other end, a pin on'the carriage loosely engaging the slot and a spring interposed between the carriage and the lever and adapted to normally hold the lever in a rest position with the pin engaging one end of the slot, the slot extending in the direction of carriage movement.'

10. The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of movable pins, of a carriage movable across the bed, a lug projecting downwardly from the carriage, the carriage being slotted, a pin engaging member comprising a slotted lever, a plvot pin carried by the lug and loosely engaging the slot in the level, a pattern pm engagingfinger projecting downwardly from the opposed end of the lever, an arm projecting upwardly from the last named end of the lever through the slots in the carriage.

11. The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of movable pins, of a carriage movable across the bed, a lug projecting downwardly from the carriage, the carriage being slotted, a pin. engaging member comprising a slotted lever, a pivot pm carried by the lug and loosely engaging the slot in the-lever, a pattern pin engaging finger projecting downwardly from the opposed end of the lever, an arm projecting upwardly from the last named end of the lever throughthe slots in the carriage andyielding means adapted to hold the lever in the rest position with the in engagin finger out of contact with the pin and with t e pivot pin engaging the end of the slot nearest to the pin engaging finger.

12. The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of movable pins, ofa keyboard controlled mechanism or longitudinally displacing selected pins, 1ncludin a movable carriage, a pin engaging mem er loosely mounted thereon and means adapted to yieldingly position such member in its loose support.

13. The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of movable pins, of a key board controlled mechanism for longitudinally displacing selected pins, including a movable carriage, a pin engaging member loosely mounted thereon and means adapted to yieldingly position such member in its loose support, the direction in which said spring acts bein inclined to the pin selecting movement o the member.

14. The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of movable pins, of a key board controlled mechanism for longitudinally displacing selected pins, including a movable carria e, a pin engaging member loosely mounted thereon and means adapted to yieldingly position such member in its loose support, the direction in which the means act being inclined to the direction of movement of the carriage.

15. The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of movable pins, of a key board controlled mechanism for longitudinally displacing selected pins, includin a movable carriage, a pin engaging mem er loosely mounted thereon and means adapted to yeildingly position such member in its loose support, the direction in which the means act being inclined to the direction of movement of the carriage and to the direce' tion in which the selecting member acts.

16. The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of movable pins guided for longitudinal movement, of a keyboard controlled mechanism for longitudinally displacing selected pins, including a movable carriage and a pin engaging member pivoted thereto. I

17. The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of movable pins guided for longitudinal movement, of a keyboard controlled mechanism for longitudinally displacing selected pins, including a movable carriage and a pin engaging member loosely pivoted thereto.

18. The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of movable pins guided for longitudinal movement, of a keyboard controlled mechanism for longitudinally displacing selected pins, including a movable carriage and a pin engaging member loosely pivoted thereto, and means for yieldingly positioning said member in normally constant relation to its pivot point.

19. The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of removable pins, of a keyboard controlled mechanism for longitudinally displacing selected pins, including a movable carriage and a pin engaging member pivoted in relation thereto, said member including a horizontal arm portion, havin a pin. engaging'element at one end thereo the opposite end of said arm being slotted for loose pivotal engagement with the carriage.

ins, of aor longi-( a movable carriage and a pin engaging member pivoted in relation thereto, said member including a horizontal arm portion, havin a pin engaging element at one end thereo the opposite end of said" arm being slotted for loose pivotal engagement With the carriage, and yielding means for normally mov ing the horizontal arm portion as far in the The combination with a pattern bed having a plurality of removable keyboard controlled mechanism tudinally displacing selected pins, including 

